Should You Buy a Car Now or Wait? Fed Rate Hike Explained

The Fed raised rates again, but not everyone feels it the same way. Savers and investors may be coming out ahead, while renters, borrowers, and lower-income households are getting squeezed. On this episode of Everyday Economics from The Center Square, publisher Chris Krug and PhD economist Dr. Orphe Divounguy break down who actually wins and loses when interest rates go up. They look at the Fed’s unanimous quarter-point hike, a weak September jobs report (just 29,000 jobs, with July revised to a loss), new JPMorgan Chase Institute data showing Americans selling stock gains to keep up with prices, and the University of Michigan’s October consumer sentiment survey. Plus, a real-world look at two households on the same street, whether now is the time to buy a car with dealer lots full and 0% financing deals popping up, and why higher rates and inflation are not a windfall for state and local governments, or the taxpayers who fund them. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:46 Fed hikes rates 12–0: was it the right call? 1:06 September jobs report and July revision 2:24 JPMorgan data: Americans cashing out stock gains 2:48 Saver vs. borrower: two households, same rate hike 4:07 University of Michigan consumer sentiment 4:34 Buy a car now or wait a year? 7:02 Higher rates, government borrowing, and taxpayers 9:07 Wrap-up #FedRateHike #InterestRates #Economy #PersonalFinance #EverydayEconomics